Espresso Love (SanDhir)

Chapter 28 - Brown Spice

Hey guys!  I'm SUPER sorry for the delay in updating!  I blame my summer school schedule :P  Regardless, I'm back for the next update!  I hope you guys enjoy it! :)

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The clock struck 1... 2... 4... 7...

9 and Randhir was yet to be seen. I glanced at the clock repeatedly in an attempt to notice the passing time, but it was all a blur. I had been waiting for him since 7 am, my mind thinking about the near future but my heart thinking about Randhir, as always.

"Sanyukta," Avantika placed a hand on my shoulder. "If you want, I can give you a call when Sir comes. You look very tired, please take rest!"

I smiled feebly, "Thanks Avantika, but it's okay." She walked away to her station. "It's not as if I'd be able to get any rest at all anyway."

Sitting outside his cabin, I pulled out my phone. Checking our last whatsapp conversation, I noticed he was last online at 4am today. I wonder where he is. But more importantly, I wonder how he is.

With nothing else to occupy my time, I pulled out the file I had diligently been working on for the past week now. But it really was naive of me to think that I could put my mind to anything else right now. By this time, my patience was wearing thin. I fished out my phone and called him, my body no longer able to handle the ambiguity.

—

—

I had parked the car in the basement today, and just sat in there, sipping my coffee quietly.

Having left home around 5am, I had spent the whole morning in my car. First I went to the cafe to pick up my daily fix of caffeine, and then I parked near the garden, sorting out my thoughts as I looked at nothing in particular. I picked up another coffee from The Coffee Club around 6:30am and headed to the office, but stayed put in the parking.

Figuring I'd spend my whole morning here, I was about to call Avantika when I noticed I had 8 missed calls from her, not to mention 4 long paragraphs of text.

Wanting to look at her picture, I touched her screen name on my phone. But I had unintentionally called her. A few moments of panic struck in rapidly, but I didn't cut the call. Now or never.

"Randhir! Oh my god, are you okay? Where are you? Are you not feeling well? Do you need anything? We don't have to talk today you know. I can come tomorrow, or maybe even later this week if you want."

I smiled as a couple of tears fell down. Clearing my throat, I finally interrupted her, "I'm fine Ms. Agarwal."

"You've been hiding from me haven't you?" she quietly asked, though I'm sure it was more of a remark than a question.

"Sanyu, come to the basement, parking 35B. I'm waiting for you in my car."

"Okay I'll be there."

My anger had dissipated but the betrayal still stung. But I guess I was finally understanding her point of view, now that I was able to think past her having been together with Sameer physically. In the few moments we spent in together in the last couple of days, I could tell there was something off. She may have a kid with him, but I was almost entirely sure that there was more to it than she was letting us know.

Maybe, just maybe, I was praying all this while that she'd been gone that she had waited for me as I had for her. But how can I blame her for her decisions when I feel that I would've probably done the same? Yes, I wouldn't have left her without an explanation, but...

A loud *knock* on the window startled me. I got out of the car to face a nervous Sanyukta.

"Listen, I'm sorry," she said, without waiting for me to say anything - as usual. "I know my coming back into your life has destroyed whatever peace you had found for yourself, and despite all that I said last night, I think you should really let me go now. I mean as long as you give me a reference for the 2 weeks I worked here at least. Well you don't have to, but I'd appreciate it."

"Sanyukta," I finally spoke, "take a breath!"

She gulped, her voice breaking a little, "I'm so sorry Randhir. In the past few hours I realized what I was asking of you. It's not fair,"

"Life's not fair Sanyu," I interrupted her. "It'd be extremely selfish of me to think of just my pain right now. I know this job is important to you, but I also know that I don't think I can spend my days with you in front of me. At least not right now."

—

—

Hearing those harsh words ripped my heart apart. Ever feel like you know exactly why a person is so disappointed in you, but still wishing they wouldn't feel that way? That was me right now.

"You can continue working for us, but at our other location."

I smiled, tears threatening to spill. Taking a leap of faith, I went closer to him and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Randhir. For always being there. For always being selfless. I promise I won't come across you ever again. You deserve much better. You deserve to be able to live in peace."

I backed off and ran to the elevator. I was determined to make this easier for him. This time, I was leaving him for good. Though that was what I had said last time, but this time, I was relentless.

—

—

I watched her disappear before I sat back in the car. Throwing my head back, I questioned my life. Why'd she have to come back if she was just going to leave me again?

—

—

"Parth..." she said, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I know I refused to meet your parents as your girlfriend the last time you asked, but I'm gonna be a hypocrite and ask you to meet my parents the day after for dinner..."

"Is everything okay babe?" I held her hand in mine. It wasn't often that I saw the Vidushi Kumar this nervous. She exhaled loudly, "They think it's about time I get married. And obviously I don't think we are at that stage in our relationship right now. But I know that if I will ever get married, it's gonna be with you. It's just that now's not the time!" she shrugged.

I kissed her forehead, "Stop worrying so much. Let's call your parents over for dinner?"

She smiled and pecked my lips, "I love you, you know that right?"

"Is that why you were so scared the whole day? Because you were afraid to ask me?"

"Well, I mean, I finally understood why you wanted me to meet your parents, so I felt bad..."

"You're adorable, you know that?"

"Well this adorable one is feeling a little less that and a little more of you-know-what," she winked, her voice a thousand times more confident than she just was a few moments ago.

"Well that's another shade I'd like to see," I replied back, my lips lingering dangerously close to her skin. Finishing up our dinner, we cleaned up quick and headed to my room. The fact that she felt guilty was going to play down well tonight, I smirked.